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But she couldn’t tell him any of that—not without admitting his growing hold over her. “Maybe someday,” she repeated with a smile. Stepping away from his touch, she looked to the Esplanade, the long expanse of green lining the Charles River. “You’re right, this is the best picnic spot. You can see the Hatch Shell,” she said, jumping once again to a safe topic. The area around the open-air stage glowed white from all the spotlights and television trucks. “I swear I can hear the music.”
“I’m not surprised. We’re close enough.” Behind her, Patience heard shuffling, and suddenly the music grew louder. He’d turned on the radio simulcast. “There,” she heard him say, “that’s better than straining to catch a stray chord. Sounds like the concert just started. Plenty of time before the fireworks.”
“Do you know,” Patience said, stepping away from the view, “that I’ve never seen the July Fourth fireworks live?”
“Really?”
“Nope. Just on TV. Piper was afraid of loud noises so I never took her. We stayed home and watched them on TV instead.”
“How about when you were a kid? Sorry.” He seemed to realize his mistake as soon as he spoke.
“That’s all right. There are worse things to miss out on.” She took a plate and started helping herself to the food. “How about you? What did your family do on Fourth of July?”
“Nothing. I was at camp, learning important wilderness survival techniques, like how not to lose your inhaler while hiking.”
She laughed.
“I’m not kidding,” he said. “I lost that sucker twice one summer. Kept falling out of my pocket.”
“I’m sorry,” Patience said, “but I’m having a hard time picturing you as this awkward asthmatic.”
“Remind me to show you my high school graduation photo someday. You’ll believe me then.”
“Well, you’re definitely not awkward now.”
“Thank you.” Stuart’s smile had an odd cast to it, almost as if he didn’t quite believe her. Which was ridiculous, because surely he knew what kind of man he was, didn’t he?
They ate in silence, letting the music fill in for conversation. It never failed to surprise Patience how comfortable just being with Stuart could be. Simmering attraction aside, that is. Maybe it was more that she never felt uncomfortable with him. Never felt like he was trying to mentally undress her. Even those moments of intense scrutiny, when his eyes bore down on her, weren’t about her figure, but rather what was inside. With him, Patience never felt like less than a person.
It was a gift she’d never forget.
Feeling a lump begin to rise in her throat, she reached for her wine. This wasn’t the time for tears.
“How do you think Ana’s party is going? She seemed pretty excited when we saw her this morning.”
“Going great, I’m sure.” Stuart smiled while wiping the grease from his fingers. “No doubt she and her cronies have commandeered the entire hospital sunroom and put the staff to work. Those ladies can be a force to be reckoned with. Don’t be surprised if we show up tomorrow and hear they had the whole hospital involved.”
Patience could picture the scene. “They’ll miss her when she’s discharged.” She sipped her wine thoughtfully. “I’m surprised you’re not at a party yourself.”
“I promised you a picnic for viewing the condo with me.”
“We could have done it a different night.” He must have had better options than spending the night with her.
“No, I said I’d show you the best place to see the fireworks. Besides, I wanted to.”
Patience tried not to get too excited by the remark. Unfortunately, she failed. The idea that Stuart had chosen her warmed her to the core. “I hope your friends aren’t too disappointed.”
“They’ll survive, I’m sure.” He stared at his drink, looking as if he was debating saying more. “I don’t—I don’t have a lot of friends. At least not close ones.”
“I’m surprised.”
He looked up. “Are you? In case you haven’t noticed, I tend to be rather suspicious of people.”
Because of Gloria? Wow, his step-grandmother had really done a number on him. Or was there someone else who’d hurt him, too? The woman who “dumped him” maybe?
“Dr. Tischel told me about your ex-girlfriend,” she told him.
“What did he say?”
She was right—the way his spine straightened told her that his step-grandmother hadn’t been the only woman to burn his trust. “Not much. Only that she broke up with you.”
